Effect of cyanobiphenyl homologue molecules on electro-optical properties in liquid crystal blue phases and polymer-stabilized blue phases

Abstract

The effects of cyanobiphenyl (CB) homologue molecules on the electro-optical properties of low-molecular-weight liquid crystal blue phase (BP) and polymer-stabilized BPs are investigated using chiral nematic liquid crystal mixtures that include CB molecules. The driving voltage and switching hysteresis of BPs were found to increase by polymer stabilization of the BP. It was also confirmed that the electro-optical rising time and Kerr coefficient of BPs vary with the molecular parity, as determined by the alkyl chain length of the n-CB homologue molecule dissolved in a chiral nematic liquid crystal mixture.